Washington Co. Commissioners briefs

Menard appointed to Gaming Commission seat

The Washington County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint John Menard to an open seat on the Washington County Gaming Commission.

Menard, a Hagerstown resident, is senior vice president of Centra Bank and serves on the boards of directors of the Hagerstown Home Store, ARC, Hospice of Washington County and The W House, according to his application.

The seven-member Gaming Commission is responsible for distributing the proceeds of tip jar gaming to charitable organizations that apply for the money each year. The county commissioners appoint three of the seven members.

The commissioners also reappointed Richard Seibert and appointed Katy Long to the Agricultural Marketing Advisory Committee and reappointed Steve Ernst to the Agricultural Land Advisory Board.

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Urban Growth Area Advisory Committee submits final report

The Urban Growth Area Advisory Committee, a group of 14 citizens appointed in 2007 to advise on the comprehensive rezoning of the county's Urban Growth Area, has submitted its final report, committee chairman Richard Phoebus said Tuesday.

The 265-page report describes the committee's recommendations on a number of zoning text and map changes proposed by the county's planning staff as the county brings its zoning ordinance in line with its 2002 comprehensive plan.

Phoebus said the group agreed with some of the planning staff proposals and disagreed with others.

The Washington County Commissioners decided to schedule workshops to discuss the committee's recommendations in greater detail.

Commissioners to advertise fiscal/research specialist position

The Washington County Commissioners voted 3-2 Tuesday to advertise an opening for the position of fiscal/research specialist for the Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission.

The position will be vacant Sept. 28 when fiscal/research specialist Sonja Hoover is promoted to a position in another department, EDC Deputy Director Robin L. Ferree said.

The fiscal/research specialist position is a grade 10 on the county's salary schedule, which starts at about $34,000 a year, Ferree said. The position's responsibilities include tracking the availability of grants for small businesses, monitoring whether companies are adhering to the terms of conditional grants and loans, researching statistics for EDC publications and administering the commission's budget, he said.

Commissioners James F. Kercheval, Kristin B. Aleshire and John F. Barr voted for advertising the position, while commissioners Terry Baker and William J. Wivell voted against it.